Star Wars Invasion: Episode II, Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

The stillness of space was briefly disturbed by the presence of a Crusader-class light freighter jumping out of hyperspace. Similar in build to a Corellian light freighter and the Dynamic-class ships used during the Old Sith Wars era, the Adventurer served as the transport for a team of fourteen; two Jedi Knights, five Alliance soldiers, six Imperial stormtroopers, and a protocol droid.

Ten years ago, one would have found this a very odd team up, but with the recent alliance between the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant, it was hardly a surprising sight anymore.

Sitting in the co-pilot seat of the Adventurer's cockpit, Anakin Solo was forced to shield his eyes as the two blazing suns of the Tatoo system came into view. Below the stars was the desert-like world of Tatooine, looking like a giant ball of sand hanging in space.

Anakin had mixed feelings about going to Tatooine. On one hand, visiting the planet that his uncle and grandfather had once called home gave him a sense of completing the cycle. But on the other hand, knowing that his grandfather had also fallen to the dark side, he was not sure if it had been something on Tatooine that had began his descent into darkness.

Standing behind his seat, Jedi Master Kyle Katarn placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry," he said, as if reading Anakin's thoughts. "From what we know of Anakin Skywalker's fall, it's more than likely it was mainly caused by Palpatine, rather than from something that happened here on Tatooine."

The Adventurer's pilot, Arek Cobalt, let out a snort. "Doesn't make the place any less bad..."

"I certainly agree," said C-3PO, who stood at the ship's navigational controls. Much to Anakin's chagrin, the golden protocol droid had insisted on accompanying him on his journey. "If I have learned anything from my adventures with Master Luke, it's that it would be hard to find anything more greedy than a Hutt, or vicious than a Sand Person, or-"

"Stow it, Goldie," Arek snapped, "or else I'll toss you into a Sarlacc Pit and leave you there until we're done with the mission."

Anakin was sure that if C-3PO's face could show any emotions, it would have shown pure fright.

The others in the cockpit remained silent as the Adventurer approached Tatooine. After receiving a clear signal to land in Mos Eisley Spaceport, Arek steered the ship through Tatooine's dusty atmosphere and towards the spaceport up ahead. The light freighter soon came to a slow stop once it had reached Mos Eisley and began to descend into its designated docking bay. The moment it had landed, Anakin could see a shady band of Weequays, Niktos, and other aliens approach the ship.

"People don't kid when they call this place a hive of scum and villainy," Arek muttered as he got up from his seat, arming himself with two blaster pistols. "How should we handle these guys?"

"I'll try to persuade them," Kyle said. "You wait here until I give the 'OK' signal. And if things get rough..."

He grinned widely. "Then you can get a good view from the cockpit."

Anakin remained seated as Kyle walked down the ship's boarding ramp and walked up to the shady group, which Anakin and the others could see from the viewport. Enabling the cockpit's audio receiver, they listened in to Kyle's conversation with the group.

"How can I help you fellas?" the Jedi Master asked in a casual tone.

One of the Weequays, who seemed to be the band's leader, seemed to inspect Kyle, regarding the Jedi's casual smuggler attire that he wore on days not spent at the Jedi Temple on Ossus.

Sneering, the Weequay said, "There's a toll for those who land in Mos Eisley. How many passengers are you carrying?"

Kyle eyed the alien warily. "Why does it matter?"

"Fifteen credits per passenger," the Weequay snarled. "We don't want Mos Eisley getting populated by people who can't afford to live, now do we?"

Kyle smirked and waved his hand casually. "Actually, it's five credits per passenger."

The Weequay's eyed narrowed in suspicion. "No, the toll is fifteen."

Kyle's smug look began to fade as he waved his hand again. "No, it is definitely five credits."

Realization broke through the alien's face as he reached behind his back and pulled out a double-edged vibroblade, aiming it at Kyle's neck. "Jedi!"

The Jedi Master smirked again. "Yeah, I'm a Jedi. What, is being that a crime on this planet?"

"Jedi cause nothing but trouble," a Green Nikto said with a sneer. "Just because they have fancy powers and saved the galaxy a buncha' times doesn't mean they can do anythin' they want!"

Kyle nodded. "Very true. But does that mean you can?"

The Nikto's expression turned into one of confusion as he exchanged looks with his fellow thugs. "Uh...what's that gotta do with-?"

"Nothing!" the Weequay leader snarled. "He's using one of his Jedi mind tricks! Get him!"

"Actually, he's got a point," a Klatooinian muttered. "I mean, who are we to get in his way? He's got that laser sword and can chop out heads off if he wanted to..."

The Weequay growled, tightening his grip on his vibroblade, but soon said, "Fine. Ten credits, please."

"Five."

"Whatever." The thug leader held out his wrinkled grey hand, which Kyle filled with sixty credits worth of golden, metal chips. With a disdainful snort of 'Thanks', the Weequay and his thugs turned and left the spaceport. Kyle then turned to the cockpit's viewport and gave Anakin and the others the signal.

"Are you crazy or something?" Arek exclaimed as he and the others walked down the boarding ramp. "Giving those thugs seventy credits? We won't have enough to land on the other planets!"

"Actually, I gave them sixty," Kyle said with a smile. "If they notice, I doubt they'll come back."

"Why didn't your mind trick work on them?" Anakin asked. "I would've thought thugs like that would be weak-minded."

Kyle chuckled. "Well, their leader had to have been smart enough to lead those type of guys..."

"So where do we start looking for the Glorians?" asked the Alliance commander Zanjaar Naar.

The Jedi Master's smile became a grin. "A cantina is a good place to start."